Ironing machine



Oct. 12, 1937. A. O. Mcc 2,095,526

IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l l a R? N v n INVENTOR 67/1/0611? 0. Me C04 L. UM

ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1937.

IRONING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12, 1934 A. o. MCCOLLUM 5 Sheets-Shet 2 was hvoerw INVENTOR 0. /7c C041. UM

' ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1937. A, o, MC'CQLLUM 2,095,526

IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov. '12, 1954 s sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOfi (SA/pen 0. MCCOLL UM BY 7 ATTORN EY Oct. 12, 1937. A. o. M coLLuM IRONING MACHINE Filed NOV. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- YINVENTOR cv/vaem z/ 6? M0 C041. u/v

BY ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1937. A. o. MCCOLLUM 2,095,526

IRONING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I gammy INVENTOR 67A/0ew 0. Ma COLLOM ATTORNEY Patented on. '12; 1937 UNITED STATE 2,095,526 moume MAonrNE Andrew 0. McCollum,

to Hydraulic Brake Detroit, Mich, assigno Company, Detroit, Mich.,

a corporation of California Application November 12,1934, Serial No. 752,730

Claims.

This invention relates to ironing machines, and

more particularly to ironing machines for do'mestic use.- Broadly the invention comprehends an ironing 'machine having cooperative ironing elements including a stationary buck and an ironing head for cooperation with the buck, and hydraulically actuated means for moving the head against the buck to create an ironing pressure between the 10 buck and the head. i

An object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine including a buck, a head for cooperation with the 'buck and hydraulically actuated means for moving the head against the buck.

Another object of the invention is to provide an iroi iii amachine including a stationary buck, a headifoncooperation with the buck, means supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, and hydraulically. actuated means for applying force to the'supporting means to createanironing pressure 'between the buck and the head. Other objects of the invention will appear from, the following description taken in connec- 25 tion with the drawings which form a part ofthis specification, and in which,-

Figure-1 is a side elevation, of an ironing machine embodying Figure 2 is a tion'; Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on line 3-3; Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional 35 device; .n Figure 5 is a top device; V v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a reiief valve;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional'view of the relief valve;

Figure 8 is a diagra heating circuit. 3

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention, In represents a frame having columns l2 and I4 arranged thereon in spaced relation and extending upward from the frame. The column I2 has at its top a spherical portion l8 and the column I4 has a reduced portion It! providing a shoulder 20.- The frame is supported inan elevated position by a column 22 and corresponding legs 24. The column 22 is suitably secured to the frame as by a sleeve 28 rbolted or otherwise 55 trio to the column partly in section, the invention;

view of the actuating plan view of the actuating atical illustration of the l2, and the respective legs are fragmentary view partly in sec-" secured to the frame concenbolted or otherwise secured to the respective sides of the frame.

A top 26 supported by the frame has an opening for the reception ofthe column l2 and a frustro-conical portion 30 havingan opening in i 5 its top for the reception of the column l4. The top 26 also has an apron 32 which conceals from view the frame and the operating mechanism of the machine.

A fluid reservoi 34 suitably supported in the. 10 column l4 has therein a piston 36 provided with a concentric sleeve 38 extending through the head of the piston. The sleeve has thereon a circumferential flange 40, and a leak-proof cup 42 on the head of the piston is held against displacement by the flange. Threaded in the sleeve is a hollow piston rod 44 extended upward through a cover 46 suitably secured in the open end of the reservoir,; and threaded in the outer end of the rod is a closure plug 48. A spring 58 29 interposed between the back of the piston and the cover 46 urges the piston'toward the bottom of the reservoir. By removing the plug 48 and retracting the piston, the reservoir 34 may be filled through the hollow rod 44.

A buck 52, which may be of any conventional type, has a dependent sleeve54 receiving the reduced portion l8 on thesleevel4 and abutting the shoulder 20. A key 58 looks the sleeve 54 to the sleeve I4 to retain the sleeve 54 against rota- 3o tion. By removing the buck 52, access may be had to the reservoir 3,4.' I

An arm 58 has a portion formed as at 60 for the reception of the spherical portion IS on the column l2 and an internal web 62 supporting an 35 extension 64. This extension protrudes downward into the col mn l2, and is pivotally connected to the spherical portion It by a pintle 66.

.A yoke 68 pivoted to-the arm 64 is connected by a spring 10 to an adjustable member 12 on a '40 fixed support 14 on the frame. This spring. serves to return the arm 58-to itsnormal or elevated position upon the completion of each operation of the machine.

The other end of the arm disposed corresponding arms 18 to which is pivotally connected an ironing head 18 for cooperation with the buck 52, and suitably connected to the arm 58 between the arms isa rod '80 on the free end of which is a hand grip 82 by which the arm 58 may be actuated to move the head into operative position.

A stub shaft 84 is mounted a bushing is mounted on to the shaft. An operating shaft 58 has oppositely I 45 on the frame, and "the frame coaxial 88 is journaled adaptablefor cooperation with a in the bushing. The stub shaft and the bushing support a fluid pressure device to be hereinafter described. The operating shaft 88 has suitably secured thereto an operative lever 90 to which an extension 92 is adjustably attached, and the extension is provided with a hand grip 94. The

ally extending arm 98 carrying an adjustable abutment screw I00.

The fluid pressure device includes a cylinder I02 having co-extensive spaced parallel arms I04 and I06. The arm I04 has a sleeve I08 receiving the stub shaft 84, and the arm I06 has a sleeve H8 receiving the sleeve 86, and the sleeve H has an arm H2 connected by a spring H4 to a fixed support on the frame. The cylinder has an intake port H6 connected by a flexible tube I I8 to the reservoir 34 as indicated at I20, and a discharge port I 22 communicating with a chamber I24, and the port I22 is controlled by a check valve I26.

The chamber I24 has an opening I30 in which is threaded a fluid pressure switch I32 connected in a circuit I34 including a lamp I36. The cir cuit I34 is tapped ofi of a circuit I38 including a heating element I40 suitably arranged in the head 18 and a rheostat I42 on the head for controlling the, circuit.

A cylinder I44 arranged in a plane parallel to the axis of the cylinder I02 and integral with the cylinder I02 has a port I46 providing a communication between the cy inder I44 and the valve the wall of the cylinder I44 diametrically disposed I54 having a port I56 providing a communication between the cylinder I54 and the cylinder I 02, and formed on the cylinder I44 is an arcuate track or runway I58 on which the'free end of the arm 64 travels.

A reciprocatory piston I60 in the cylinder I02 has a reduced body portion providing in conjunction with the wall of the cylinder an annular chamber I 62 communicating with the intake port H6, and a ports I64 in the head of the piston provide communications between the end of a thrust rod I16, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the arm 96.

A reciprocatory piston I18 in the cylinder I54 This plunger is fiat surface I86 on the interior of the sleeve I2, and interposed between the piston and the head I 82 is a spring I88 for returning the piston to its retracted position. I

A reciprocatory piston I 90 in the cylinder I"44 has on its head a leak-proof cup I92, and suitably secured to the back of this piston is a plunger ber arm 58. The beveled face 202 on the free end of the plunger I96 has a variable engagement with the arm dependent upon the thickness of the work between the buck and the head.

A valve chamber cylinder I 02 has a connecting this port 204. formed on the wall of the port 206 and a passage 208 to the intake port H6. This valve chamber also has a port 2I0 connected by a passage 2I2 to a port 2I4 in the chamber I24. A valve cage 2I6, suitably secured in position as by a plug 2I8 threaded in the open end of the chamber 204, has a valve seat 220 positioned intermediate the ports 206 and 2 I0, and a reciprocal valve 222 arranged for cooperation with the seat 220 has a rod 224 extending through the head of the chamber. Sleeved on the rod 224 are leakproof cups 226 and 228 held in position by. a spring 230. Also sleeved on the rod between the head of the chamber and a step 232 on the rod to its seat.

filled with fluid, that the circuit I 38 is connected to a suitable source of electrical supply and that the ironing head 78 is in elevated position,un-

cording to the I58. I58, the spring fluid pressure engagement between the arm 64 and hence the ironmay be retained in any one of a number of operative positions.

pin I76 to the piston, resulting in moving the piston on its compression stroke.

Upon movement of the piston I 60 on its compression stroke, fluid is displaced from the cylinder I02 past the check valve I 26 into the cham- I24, thence through port I46 into cylinder I44, and thence through port I 56 into cylinder I54, resulting in moving the piston I90 in the cylinder I44 and the piston I82 in the cylinder I54 on their compression strokes. The piston I 82 is moved to engage a flat I86 on the interior of the column I2 with sufficient pressure to retain the fluid pressure device against movement, and the piston I90 is moved against the arm 64.

period of time to effectively iron the work, the operatorlifts the lever- 90. This movement of the lever 90 rocks the shaft 88 in the reverse direction and moves the arm 96secured thereto through an angle, and this movement of the arm 96 is transmittedto the thrust pin I16, resulting in retracting the thrust pin from the piston I60.

As the thrust pin moves to its retracted position, the piston I60 also moves to its retracted position under the influence of the return spring I68. During the movement of the piston I60 to its retracted position, the cup I66 on the head of the piston collapses and fluid is drawn from the reservoir 34 through the conduit H8 and port II6 into the chamber I62, thence through ports I64 in the head of the piston I60, past the cup I66 into the cylinder I02 forward of the piston, completely filling the cylinder for a subsequent operation.

Upon further movementof the operating lever 90 in the reverse direction, the driver 93 on the arm 96 is moved with force against the stem 224 of the valve 222, resulting in tripping the valve. Upon tripping the valve 222 the pressure on the fluid in the cylinders I44 and I54 is released, and the fluid in these cylinders is returned under the influence of the springs [98"and II8 acting .on the respective pistons I90and I82.

The fluid returns from the cylinder I54 to the cylinder I44, and thence through the port I46, valve chamber I24, port 2I4, passage 2l2 and port 2I0 into, the valve chamber 204, past the valve 222, and through port 206, passage 208 and conduit IIB to the reservoir.

Upon retraction of the piston I82 the pressure retaining the fluid pressure device against movement is released, and upon retraction of the piston I90 the applied force on the arm 04 is released. With these pressures released, the force applied on the valve stem 224 moves the fluid pressure device to the position of rest, in which the device from the arm, upon disengaging the device from the arm to position the extension I54 of the arm 58 is released, whereupon the springs 10 .become effective to return the head I8 to elevated position.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as apreferred example, and that various changes in shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. An ironing machine comprising a stationary buck, a head for cooperation with the buck, a pivoted arm supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, manually 0perative means for moving the head into operative position, a fluid pressure device, means for automatically moving the ,device'bodily into engagement with the arm upon movement of the head into operative position;.manual means for actuating the device to apply force to thearm for moving the head into pressing engagement with the buck, means operated by the actuating means for releasing the applied force and disengaging and means effective return the head to inoperative position. 2. An ironing machine comprising a stationary buck, anarm pivoted between its ends, a head supported on one end of the arm for cooperation with the buck, manual means for actuating the arm to .move the head into operative position,

, eration with the buck, a

A gaging the arm buck, a head for cooperation with the pivoted arm supporting into and from operative I means tending to position,

a stationary buck on u on the frame, a head on .for moving the device out a fluid pressure device," means for automatically moving the device bodily into engagement with the arm upon movement of the head into operative position, manually operative means for actuating the device to rock the arm and thereby move the head into pressing engagement with the buck, means actuated by the manual means for releasing pressure in the pressure producing device and for moving the device out of engagement with the arm and means effective for moving the head to inoperative position upon disengaging the device from the arm. 3. An ironing machine comprising a stationary buck, an arm pivoted between its ends, a head on one end of the arm for cooperation with the buck, manual means for actuating the arm to move the head into operative position, means tending to move the head from operative position, a fluid pressure device including a pump and a motor actuated thereby, means automatically efiective upon movement of the head into operative position to move the device bodily to engage the motor with the other end of the arm, and means for actuating the pump to move the head into pressing engagement with the buck. 4 An ironing machine comprising a frame, the frame, an arm pivoted the arm for cooperation with th buck, a fluid pressure device on the frame movable for engagement with the arm including a pair of fluid pressure actuated pist0ns,- one for engaging the frame to retain the device in a fixed position and the other for en-. to move the head into pressing engagement with the buck, and a pump for actuating the pistons.

5. An ironing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck on the frame, a member pivoted to the frame, a head on the member .for coopdevice pivoted on" the I I move the head from operative frame for actuating the member to move the head into pressing engagement with the buck, said device including with the frame, and means ac-" fluid pressure actuated motors and a pump for actuating themotors,-means for moving the device bodily to engage the pisof engagement with the arm after completing the ironing. operation. f 0

6. An ironing machine comprising a stationary buck, a head for cooperation with the buck, a pivoted armsupporting the head for movement into and from operative position, a fluid pressure device mounted to swing bodily into and out of engagement with the arm, cally moving the fluid pressure device into engagement with the arm upon movement of the head into operative position, manually operative means for actuating the fluid pressure device to move the head into pressing engagement, and

means actuated by the manually operative means of engagement with the arm upon completing the pressing operation.

"I. An ironing machine comprising a stationary buck, a

position, manually operative means for moving the head into operative position, means tending to move the head from operative position, a fluid pressure device mounted to movebodily into and out of engage means for automatithehead for movement ment with the arm, means effective to automatically move the fluid pressure device into engagement with the arm upon movement of the head into operative position, manually operative means for actuating the fluid pressure device to move the head into pressing engagement with the buck, and means actuated by the manually operated means for moving'the fluid pressure device from engagement with the arm upon completion of the pressing operation.

8. An ironing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck on the frame, an arm pivoted on the frame, a head on the arm for cooperation with the buck, manually operative means for moving the head into operative position, means cooperating with the arm for moving the head from operative position, a fluid pressure device including a pair of fluid pressure actuated m0- tors and a pump for actuating the motors, means for moving the fluid pressure device bodily to engage the piston of one of the motors with the arm and the piston of the other motor with the frame, manually operative means for operating the pump to retain the device against displacement and to transmit force through the arm to the head to move the head into pressing engagement with the buck, and means actuated by the manually operative means for releasing the pistons and moving the device out of engagement with the arm and frame after completing the pressing operation.

9. An ironing machine comprising a frame, a stationary buck on the frame, an arm pivoted on the frame, a head on the arm for cooperation including fluid with the buck, manual means for moving the head into operative position, means cooperating with the arm for moving the head from operative position, a fluid pressure device including a pair of fluid pressure motors, a pump for actuating the motors and a relief valve for the motors, means for moving the fluid pressure device to engage the piston of with the arm and the piston of the other motor with the frame, manual means for operating the pump to retain the device against movement and to actuate the head into pressing engagement with the buck, and means for tripping the valve and for moving the fluid pressure device to its position of rest upon completion of the pressing operation.

10. In an ironing machine, a stationary buck, a movable head, a pivoted arm supporting the head for movement into and from operative position, a fluid pressure device mounted to swing into and from the path of movement of the arm pressure actuated means for re taining the device in the path of movement of the arm, means for automatically swinging the device into the path of movement of the arm upon movement of the head into operative position, means for operating the device to transmit force through the arm to the head to actuate the head into pressing engagement with the buck, means for releasing pressurein the fluid pressure device, and means for moving the fluid pressure device from the path of movement of the arm upon completion of the pressing operation.

ANDREW O. McCOLLUM.

one of the motors 

